SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE PROGRAM
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Julius Thomas III, WSU Alumnus (2005/ BFA Musical Theatre & Dance)
Shining the light on the goings on with current students, faculty, staff and alumni
Julius Thomas III, a native of Gary, IN is now residing in NYC. Currently he is appearing off-broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in The Scottsboro Boys, the last collaborative piece of the song writing legends Kander & Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago). Julius, who is originating the role of Roy in The Scottsboro Boys, is thrilled to be working with director Susan Stroman (The Producers, Young Frankenstein) and composer John Kander. The Scottsboro Boys opened to rave reviews (yay!) and by popular demand has been extended twice with recordbreaking sales and sellouts.
Last year, Julius broke some of his own personal records. He performed for a crowd of over 15,000 people with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular: he was the featured vocalist for the thirty-one-city arena tour. Julius also traveled to Japan with the 1st National Tour of Xanadu as the Muse of Dance Terpsicore. Before that Julius spent some time working on the original Chicago and National Touring Companies of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Coming up next Julius will be performing in the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids Easter Bonnet Competition, an event which helps to support those living with ailments in the US. He is also in collaboration with The Haiti Relief Fund, and donates his time and talents as they are needed. And (as if this doesn't keep him busy enough) he teaches tap privately.
While at WSU Julius performed in Pippin (Leading Player), Anything Goes (Purser), The Three Penny Opera (Filch), and Secret Garden (Major Shelly). He also taught both Musical Theatre Dance and Hip Hop for the Dance program. Additional Wichita credits include Music Theatre of Wichita and Cabaret Oldtown.
Julius' immediate family still resides in NW Indiana. His mother and father still occupy the house he grew up in which, coincidentally, is on the same street as the Jackson 5's house. He has one older sister and three nephews that he misses daily.
Julius has shared the stage/worked with such greats as Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Joel Grey, Deb Monk, Montego Glover, Norm Lewis, John Kander, Susan Stroman, Hunter Foster, Sutton Foster and many more. He is so excited to see what is around the corner, but he is also thrilled with the ride he's taken thus far.
Last year, Julius broke some of his own personal records. He performed for a crowd of over 15,000 people with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular: he was the featured vocalist for the thirty-one-city arena tour. Julius also traveled to Japan with the 1st National Tour of Xanadu as the Muse of Dance Terpsicore. Before that Julius spent some time working on the original Chicago and National Touring Companies of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Coming up next Julius will be performing in the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids Easter Bonnet Competition, an event which helps to support those living with ailments in the US. He is also in collaboration with The Haiti Relief Fund, and donates his time and talents as they are needed. And (as if this doesn't keep him busy enough) he teaches tap privately.
While at WSU Julius performed in Pippin (Leading Player), Anything Goes (Purser), The Three Penny Opera (Filch), and Secret Garden (Major Shelly). He also taught both Musical Theatre Dance and Hip Hop for the Dance program. Additional Wichita credits include Music Theatre of Wichita and Cabaret Oldtown.
Julius' immediate family still resides in NW Indiana. His mother and father still occupy the house he grew up in which, coincidentally, is on the same street as the Jackson 5's house. He has one older sister and three nephews that he misses daily.
Julius has shared the stage/worked with such greats as Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Joel Grey, Deb Monk, Montego Glover, Norm Lewis, John Kander, Susan Stroman, Hunter Foster, Sutton Foster and many more. He is so excited to see what is around the corner, but he is also thrilled with the ride he's taken thus far.
ALUMNI SNAPTSHOTS
Alumni current or most recent projects (that we know of)
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY
Julius in The Scottsboro Boys
(with Brandon Victor Dixon)
(with Brandon Victor Dixon)
